"Wicked" director Jon M. Chu had a contentious relationship with Universal Pictures executives over the final shot of his two-part musical adaptation "Wicked: For Good". In an effort to maintain creative control, Chu refused to show the studio the last image of the film, which is a close-up shot of Glinda whispering into Elphaba's ear. This iconic moment was taken directly from the original Broadway poster.
According to Chu, he had always intended for the film to end on this note and would not have shown it to Universal even if they had requested it. "Yes, it was always the plan," he said. "I was always going to end on the whisper." The studio, however, was keen on using the shot in their marketing campaign.
Chu emphasized that he wanted to convey a sense of detachment from this specific image, only to subvert expectations by making it the last shot in the film's conclusion. He successfully imposed a strict no-show policy for the final shot, with Universal being unwilling to budge despite their enthusiasm for the image.
In contrast, the original "Wicked" Broadway poster was reused during the marketing of the first movie without much alteration, leading to a heated response from fans and even Cynthia Erivo, who starred as Elphaba in the film adaptation. The actress expressed her hurt and frustration over seeing photoshopped versions of the poster on social media, where some individuals had digitally altered Erivo's features.
Erivo described the practice of altering the original poster as "offensive" and "degrading", emphasizing that it erased her humanity and reduced her to a mere image. The actress argued that the poster was meant as an homage rather than an imitation, highlighting the importance of respecting people's likenesses in art.
The situation serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between creative control and commercial pressures in film production. As Chu demonstrated, maintaining artistic vision is essential, but so too are collaborations with studios to ensure the project's success.
According to Chu, he had always intended for the film to end on this note and would not have shown it to Universal even if they had requested it. "Yes, it was always the plan," he said. "I was always going to end on the whisper." The studio, however, was keen on using the shot in their marketing campaign.
Chu emphasized that he wanted to convey a sense of detachment from this specific image, only to subvert expectations by making it the last shot in the film's conclusion. He successfully imposed a strict no-show policy for the final shot, with Universal being unwilling to budge despite their enthusiasm for the image.
In contrast, the original "Wicked" Broadway poster was reused during the marketing of the first movie without much alteration, leading to a heated response from fans and even Cynthia Erivo, who starred as Elphaba in the film adaptation. The actress expressed her hurt and frustration over seeing photoshopped versions of the poster on social media, where some individuals had digitally altered Erivo's features.
Erivo described the practice of altering the original poster as "offensive" and "degrading", emphasizing that it erased her humanity and reduced her to a mere image. The actress argued that the poster was meant as an homage rather than an imitation, highlighting the importance of respecting people's likenesses in art.
The situation serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between creative control and commercial pressures in film production. As Chu demonstrated, maintaining artistic vision is essential, but so too are collaborations with studios to ensure the project's success.
! I mean, I get it, studios wanna use that iconic shot in their marketing but he was like "no way" & stuck 2 his vision 
. It's not 4 me, tbh, but if u r a fan of the movie & love dat shot, more power 2 u! 
But for real tho, it's all about respectin' creators & their intentions 
. I mean, come on, Jon M. Chu was super secretive about the final shot and it's only fair that they got to see it before deciding whether or not to use it in their marketing. And honestly, who wouldn't want to use an iconic image like Glinda whispering into Elphaba's ear? It's a total showstopper! I don't get why Chu was being so stubborn about it - it's just a movie, right? And fans should be happy that Erivo got to have her features digitally altered for the poster. It's all part of the fun and excitement of seeing your favorite characters on screen, imo 
... it's such an iconic moment and he didn't want to compromise on his vision. but at the same time, i feel bad for cynthia erivo and all those fans who got their poster photoshopped without consent 
. studios can be so pushy sometimes, trying to get what they want without considering how it affects the artist or the audience.
... and also how important collaboration is in the industry 
. like, jon chu wanted to keep that shot secret, but he still needed universal's support to make the movie happen 
. sometimes you have to find a balance between being artistic and working with others to get your project done 
.
. I mean, who needs a studio's approval when you're confident in your vision? It's not just about creative control, it's about staying true to the message and emotions you want to convey. And let's be real, that final shot is pretty iconic 
. The fact that Universal was willing to push back on it shows they might have been more focused on making a quick buck than understanding the bigger picture 
. It's good to see someone stand up for their artistic integrity, especially when it comes to representation like Cynthia Erivo's role in "Wicked". She totally deserved better 
.
and omg, erivo is literally speaking straight from my heart - it's so unfair when ppl alter ur image without ur permission 
. anyway, i think chu handled it pretty well by setting boundaries & sticking to his vision 
... I mean, who wants their art to be Photoshopped and manipulated just for likes? It's like they're trying to reduce Cynthia Erivo to just an image on a poster - it's dehumanizing 
But honestly, wouldn't it be awesome if studios and creatives could find that balance between artistry and commerce? It's all about respect for the people involved and preserving their humanity 
.